 "Hamid Ansari")
As India embarks on a sustained high growth trajectory, its increasing energy requirements offer Brunei an opportunity to enhance export of hydrocarbons to New Delhi, Vice President Hamid Ansari on Wednesday said.
India, he said, is also keen to work with Brunei in setting up a fertiliser plant that would make use of the hydrocarbon resources available here.
Delivering a speech at the University of Brunei on the topic 'India-Brunei: Partners in Peace and Prosperity', Ansari said, "The growing Indian economy also provides us with an opportunity to move beyond the typical energy seller-buyer relationship. There is tremendous potential to diversify and do value-addition in the hydrocarbon export chain."
In this context, he said India was "keen to work with Brunei in setting up a fertiliser plant that would make use of the hydrocarbon resources available here for producing fertilisers to meet agricultural requirement in India," adding that this will generate additional revenue streams and create local employment.
Ansari said the historical and cultural linkages between Brunei and India dating back to the third century have "given us the confidence to forge a strong and abiding relationship in modern times."
He thanked Brunei for its assistance to and cooperation with India's space programmes through the Telemetry Tracking and Telecommand Station of ISRO in Brunei.
"The station was a crucial component in India's spectacular success in deploying the Mangalyaan in orbit around Mars," he said.
Expressing keenness in attracting investments from Brunei in infrastructure and manufacturing sectors, Ansari said government's flagship programmes have opened several avenues for profitable investments.
"Our new 'Make in India' initiative opens up new vistas for investments from ASEAN into India. These include sectors such as smart cities, roads and highways, ports, railways, power and urban infrastructure. The India-ASEAN Agreements on Trade in Services and Investment will also unleash large potential for mutual investment.
He termed his three-day visit a "reaffirmation of the importance that India accords to its ties with Brunei and our keen desire to further deepen and intensify our relations."
Terming Information Technology an area where India has made rapid strides, he said this can be a field for enhancing mutual cooperation and "India would be keen to share its experience and expertise in the field of Information Technology in accordance with the wishes and requirements of the people and government of Brunei.
"We value the support extended by Brunei in making India a
full dialogue partner of ASEAN and in the ongoing India-ASEAN FTA negotiations. It reflects Brunei's understanding of the 'Look East' policy of India, which is aimed at integrating India's multifaceted relations with ASEAN and beyond.
Similarly, the decision at the 3rd East Asian Summit at Singapore last November on the Nalanda University initiative is deeply appreciated, he said.
Ansari noted the government's policy towards South-East and East Asia from 'Look East' to 'Act East' indicates India's resolve to move with a great sense of priority to intensify cooperation in security, trade, investment, connectivity and strengthening people-to-people linkages with ASEAN countries.
"Enhancing connectivity between India and ASEAN in all its aspects - physical, institutional and people-to-people, is a key strategic priority for us. Our North-Eastern region is our land-bridge to the ASEAN," he said.
"Our excellent bilateral ties with our ASEAN partners, which are largely sans irritants, have laid a strong foundation for our Act East Policy," he said.
India is working on drafting the ASEAN-India Plan of Action for the period 2016-2021, to translate the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership Vision into concrete action for greater progress and prosperity.
The Vice President thanked Brunei for playing a constructive role in deepening of India's engagement with ASEAN. "As Brunei prepares for greater integration into the ASEAN community, India will continue to steadfastly support Brunei in assuming its rightful place in the comity of nation, as a dependable friend and partner.
India was among the first countries to welcome Brunei in the comity of nations when it gained full independence in 1984.
Energy trade is an area where India and Brunei have strong complementarities. At present, India imports crude oil worth USD 1 billion from Brunei.
Though India is the third-largest importer for Brunei, the total import from Brunei is only a fraction of India's global crude imports of over USD112.748 billion in 2014-15, Ansari said.
Referring to the 10,000-strong Indian community of professionals like doctors, engineers and skilled personnel contributing to the economy of Brunei, Ansari expressed gratefulness to the oil and gas rich nation's government for the support extended to the expatriate community.
"The quality of our professionals is a testimony to the strength of academic Institutions in India. This is another area for us to collaborate. We would welcome more exchanges of students, teachers and researchers from the academic institutions in Brunei, including this University.
"Such exchanges would augment our people to people contacts. We are also keen to work with Brunei to expand mutual tourism by enhancing connectivity and streamlining our visa and travel document requirements," he said.
